Oakland Raiders look to recover from late-game collapse

Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson (81) prepares to catch a 48-yard pass from quarterback Matthew Stafford next to Oakland Raiders linebacker Rolando McClain (55) during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game in Oakland, Calif., Sunday, Dec. 18, 2011. The Lions won 28-27.

ALAMEDA, Calif. — A late-game collapse has essentially left the Oakland Raiders' hopes of ending an eight-year playoff drought to this formula: Win their final two games and hope.

Before the Raiders can start digging deep into the NFL's tiebreaking scenarios they have a much more important task. They must figure out how to get back on track following a three-game losing streak.

Lopsided losses at Miami and Green Bay were followed by perhaps Oakland's most crushing loss of the season. The Raiders (7-7) blew a 13-point lead in the closing minutes against Detroit and lost 28-27 on Sunday to deal a blow to their playoff hopes.